Reconnecting to Pacific Island breadfruit agroforestry landscapes

Rising Voices June 30, 2015

Craig Elevitch

Agroforestry Net/Olohana Cornell University (PhD student)

Masters

We have not been stewarding lands for sustainable environmental, cultural, and human health.

Kahului

Hamakua Holualoa

Track record 200 years

Lāna‘i 2013

• Land and water degradation

• Food insecurity

• Reduced land access • Public unawareness

We have not been stewarding lands for sustainable environmental, cultural, and human health.

Kahului

Hamakua Holualoa

‘Upolu, Samoa

Lana‘i City

Lana‘i City

Lana‘i City

Multistory Agroforestry

Multistory agroforest

Crop Estimated yield of one plant (personal nutrition-days/yr)

Breadfruit 60–188

Banana 15

Coconut 44 (from kernel)

Understory of taro, cassava, yam, sweetpotato, etc.

Substantial addition

Total 119–247

Yields source: Specialty Crops of Pacific Islands (2011)

Low input Captures nutrients Pest and disease resistant Multiple crops Environmental services Resilient

•“Lived-in” environments •Connected to cultural, human health

•Abundant, sustainable •Economic diversity

35 ft diameter homegarden agroforest

•“Lived-in” environments •Connected to cultural, human health

•Abundant, sustainable •Economic diversity

35 ft diameter homegarden agroforest

PA‘auilo, Hawai‘i

Biomass

Years 1 5

High

Low

Biological growth

Expansion Decline

(Zeide 1993)

Lifestyle shift •“Lived-in” environments •Connected to cultural, human health

•Abundant, sustainable •Economic diversity

I ke alo no ka ‘ulu a hala. The breadfruit was just in

front and it was missed.

‘Olelo No‘eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings